Process of treating wood for the manufacture of musical instruments



Patented F eb. 12, 1924. I

UNITED STATES v I 1,483,733 PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS KOZELEK, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

IROCESS OF TREATING WOOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No Drawing. Application filed July 5;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS Koznnnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented certain newand ,useful Improvements in Processes of Treating Wood for the Manufacture of Musical Instruments of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the process of treating wood for the manufacture of musical instruments, and has for its primary object the special treatment of wood to produce improved tonal effects.

Another object of the invention embodies in the treatment of wood for the above purpose, the idea of submitting the wood to an extremely high degree of heat to remove all moisture and gases from the wood and substantially carbonize the same.

A further object of the invention includes the coating of the dried wood with a heavy coat of varnish and again heatin the same to cause a thorough permeation of the wood by the varnish to develop the resonant quali ties thereof, and finally rubbing the wood with oil or grease to produce a polished finish and to protect the wood from moisture or the like.

With the above general objects in view, and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the process embodies the novel treatment of wood to especially adapt the same for the manufacture of musicalinstruments, more particularly of the violin or stringed type.

The invention actually reduced to practice, consists of subjecting the wood to a dry heat until the same attains a yellowish color. It is preferabletoemploy wood that has not been cut for more than one year, pine and spruce being found especially desirable for the purpose intended. The wood may be heated when in a rough state,or cut or carved'into the proper shape or design prior to heating.

In heating the wood, in the initial treatment thereof, a furnace or other heating unit may be employed, the temperature thereof being regu ated relative to the character of wood being treated. If a soft wood is used in the upper deck such as pine, spruce or red cedar the temperature ranges from 450 to 500 F., and is so intained for at least twenty-four hours, aid in the case'of -high polish or luster'and partiall 1922. Serial No. 572,799.

a harder wood for the lower deck, such as hard maple, the temperature will be increased from 500 to 550 F. for the same period of time. The wood being so treated, has all moisture and volatile substances removed therefrom, rendering the wood highly brittle and changing the color thereof to a a rich golden yellow. In this state, the wood is practically carbonized and is absolutely free of all moisture and glue that would otherwise cling between the fibres thereof.

When so treated, the wood is allowed to cool gradually to prevent cracking and warping, the entire mass of heat radiating therefrom. In the next step of the process, the wood is heavily coated with varnish and again subjected to heat (considerably less than at first treatment) to cause the varnishsubstantially to permeate the wood, and produce therein a highly resonant characteristic particularly desirable in the manufacture of stringed instruments. The degree of temperature attained is controlled by the weight of the wood, only suflicientheat being required to cause a thorough saturation or filling of the wood with the varnish.

In the final treatment of the wood, a felt or other soft cloth is used in applying grease to the surface thereof. The grease employed is derived from pigs feet that have been baked or roasted and by actual test, this grease has been found preferable for this purpose, the grease being vigorously rubbed over the surface of the wood. to produce fa trating the surface thereof to render t ewood substantially waterproof and insure the tone producing resonant characteristics thereof. In lieu'of grease it has also been found practicableto use the grease from hog fat, as the same possesses unusual penetrating qualities and produces a substantially waterproof product.

Wood treated in the above manner has penebeenfound especially desirable in the. construction of musicalinstruments of the viol type, and more-particularly violins, the tone sustaining quality and the resonant characteristic being materially enhanced.

The steps inthe heat treatment of the wood as outlined herein, are what are believedto be preferable, as well as the range of temperature, but it is understood that'the scope of the invention is onl limited as recited in the process claime 1 2. The process of treating wood What is claimed as new is 1. The process of treating wood for the manufacture of stringed musical instruments consisting in first subjecting the wood 5 to the action of dry heat to remove all moisture and volatile substances therefrom and substantially Carbonize the wood, then allowing the heat in the wood to radiate and applying a heavy coat of varnish thereto, again subjecting the varnished wood to the action of heat of a temperature less than the initial application thereof, and finally rubbing the wood with grease obtained from roasted pigs feet.

for the manufacture of stringed D'lIlSlCAl instruments consisting in first subjecting the wood to the action of dry heat at temperatures ranging from 450 F. to 550 F, for a period of at least twenty-four (24) hours to remove all moisture and volatile substances therefrom and substantially carbonize the wood, allowing the heat to radiate therefrom and applying a heavy coating of varnish thereto, again subjecting the varnished wood to the action of heat of a temperature less than the initial application thereof, and finally rubbing the wood with grease obtained from roasted pigs feet to produce a high lustre and render the wood substantially waterproof. V

3. The process of treating wood for the manufacture of stringed instruments consisting in first subjecting the wood to dry heat for a period sufficiently long to substantially carbonize the same, applying a coating of varnish to the wood and again subjecting the same to the action of heat to effect. a substantial permeation thereof by the varnish and finally rubbing the wood with an oil or grease to produce a high lustre and render the same practically waterproof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUIS KOZELEK. 

